עבריתEXPRESS

Lesson 6: Asking Yes-No Questions

The Ivrit Express series presents compact lessons in Biblical (not Modern) Hebrew grammar. It aims to reinforce (not replace) your classroom experiences.

This lesson introduces the basics of asking yes-or-no questions.

Relax, watch, and listen as you advance through the next few slides.

יש לי כבש

היש לךכבש

אין ליכבש

היש לוכבש

אין לו כבש

היש לךכבש

יש לי כבש

היש להכבש

יש להכבש

האתההמלך

אני המלך

ההיאהמלכה

היא לאהמלכה

האתהמלכה

אני לאהמלכה

ההואהמלך

הואהמלך

I recommend that you go through the foregoing picture slides at least three times before advancing to the grammatical discussion.

In this case, tone of voice provides important cues to the picture lesson.

In English, you turn a statement into a yes-or-no question by changing the word order and adding a question mark. You can’t hear a question mark in English, so we also use a rising pitch at the end of the question.

In ancient times, written Hebrew did not have any punctuation marks. The “half-syllable” ה, affixed to the beginning of a statement, turns the statement into a yes-or-no question.

If I say יש לו כבש, I am stating that a particular man (“he”) has a sheep. If I say היש לו כבש, I am asking whether he has a sheep.

In some cases, such as before subject pronouns, the ה can change to ה or even ה.

The trickiest thing here is that the definite article, the word “the,” is usually a prefixed -  .ה

In pointed Biblical Hebrew, the letter following the definite article ה usually gets a דגש (there’s one in the first letter of דגש itself). That can usually help you distinguish between the “question mark” ה and the definite article ה.

To practice recognizing the distinction, review slides 14-21 of this lesson.

In consonantal written Hebrew, you’ll generally have to rely on context to distinguish the two.

Review slides 14-21, and take note of how the man and woman on the edges answer the questions posed by the man in the middle.

In Biblical Hebrew dialogue, yes-or-no questions aren’t actually answered with a mere “yes” or “no.” Instead, they’re answered with a short but complete sentence or, sometimes, just one significant word.

So when asked האתה המלך, the king answers אני המלך. Biblical Hebrew doesn’t use just a simple “yes.” (Modern Hebrew does.)

Likewise, when asked the woman answers ,האת המלכה.לא not just ,אני לא המלכה

Answers like these may seem a bit formal if you’re used to conversational English, but they’re good Biblical Hebrew style—and good practice when answering questions in class or on homework assignments!

CREDITSScripted and narrated by

Dr. Chris Heard, Pepperdine University

Partially funded bya Pepperdine University

Faculty Innovation in Teaching and Learning Grant

Artwork licensed viaiStockphoto